DDP worrh it?

[kedkin]

For our upcoming trip we were thinking of getting the DDP. We never got it before because we really never thought it was deal. Am I looking at this wrong?

 

[BestDadEver]

I figured it out looking at my receipts and it saved me about $50 per day for 2adults 1 child . Not including snacks . If use the snack on something at least worth $4 and pay for waters that were only $2.5 . I am also a big eatter , I don't skip desert and order appetizers (whitch had to be paid for oop) . But I don't drink alcohol . If I did TIW may have have been a better deal .

 

[tjkraz]

Gotta look at your particular situation.

In general, you need to have two or more children on your plan in order for it to be a real slam dunk. And you need to dine in the more expensive locations like character meals.

Our family consists of two parents, a 12 year old and a 10 year old. In other words, four Disney "adults." Absolutely no way we would save money with the DDP. In fact, we don't even eat many sit-down meals anymore because the kids aren't going to eat an adult portion. Buffets would be a complete waste of money--I'm not paying $60-70 for a 10 & 12 year old who actually eat about $10 worth of food combined.

 

[hakepb]

Select your dining locations into this spreadsheet and see if the DDP works:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3050182

I think by now, most people spend less than the DDP...but it is possible to save money if you prefer the more expensive buffets and/or entree/dessert combos.

But the DDP made a whole lot more sense in the early days at $29.99/day when that included appetizer and tip!

 

[DeerIsleDisney]

When you could book a DVC split stay and get the Deluxe Dining Plan for one night, it was not a bad deal. We did this a couple of times and could spread the 3 table service credits over 2 days. Princess Dinner at Akhershus in Norway one night and Hoop-Dee-Doo Review the second night. A snack each day plus a refillable mug. This was a good bit less expensive than paying cash for those two fixed price meals, especially for the kids. Now, the DxDP price has gone up significantly, and you can't do a split reservation while staying in the same room. I think Tables in Wonderland is a better fit unless you have children under 10 and are planning on a lot of character meals and buffets.

 

[kedkin]

When you could book a DVC split stay and get the Deluxe Dining Plan for one night, it was not a bad deal. We did this a couple of times and could spread the 3 table service credits over 2 days. Princess Dinner at Akhershus in Norway one night and Hoop-Dee-Doo Review the second night. A snack each day plus a refillable mug. This was a good bit less expensive than paying cash for those two fixed price meals, especially for the kids. Now, the DxDP price has gone up significantly, and you can't do a split reservation while staying in the same room. I think Tables in Wonderland is a better fit unless you have children under 10 and are planning on a lot of character meals and buffets.

That's why this board is so great, so many great responses. I didn't even think about the split stays, we have one coming up. It was never really worth it for us cause we don't do the table service every day, we would only do a couple over a week long trip. But the split stay would make sense.

 

[BestDadEver]

That's why this board is so great, so many great responses. I didn't even think about the split stays, we have one coming up. It was never really worth it for us cause we don't do the table service every day, we would only do a couple over a week long trip. But the split stay would make sense.

FWIW My post above my son is 3 and we had a table service every night but our first , and did a character breakfast . We used the quick service every day for lunch and eat breakfast in the villa .

If you want the details this is My trip report

 

[eliza61]

depends. I have 4 Disney adults. that's over 200 per day for the ddp. Now we do not do character dining anymore and don't really like the buffets so no way would spend that much each day.
Even without the TIW card, your dvc card gives you 10% discount on a lot of restaurants.
Last year we averaged about $137 per day. Now we did have a day or two where the total was over 200 bucks

 

[kedkin]

What is TIW card?

 

[abdmom]

What is TIW card?

Tables In Wonderland card. Details can be foundhere

 

[kedkin]

Tables In Wonderland card. Details can be foundhere

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The TiW can be purchased by Florida Residents, DVC Members, and Annual Passholders. It gives a 20% discount on food and beverages (including alcoholic) at most tables service and some quick services location on WDW for up to ten people at a time. When you purchase it, the card is valid for the remainder of the current month plus 13 full months.

Here is a working example, using $100.00 as the original bill to make the math show up easily. Note this is for Table Service. At Counter Service there is no gratuity added.

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*20.00 - Discount
*80.00 - Subtotal
*18.00 - Gratuity Added based on $100
**5.20 - Sales Tax on $80
103.20 - Final amount charged, takes into consideration discount, gratuity and tax.

Without TiW Discount (and still figuring 18% Gratuity)

100.00 - Original Menu Amount
*18.00 - Gratuity
**6.50 - Sales Tax on $100
124.50 - Total

$21.30 - Savings using TiW Card.

(Note - At Victoria and Albert's the added gratuity is 20% instead of 18%.)
* Ignore the asterisks; they are there only so the columns/numbers line up properly.

For the complete list of locations and the rules, go to www.tablesinwonderland.com which is the Official Disney site.

Based on the current pricing, the following is the break-even point for menu pricing (assuming you will routinely give an 18% tip):
AP Holder or DVC Member ($100) is $469.48
Resident (not AP holder) ($125) is $586.85
Both of the above take into consideration that the Sales Tax is also discounted.

 

[Dean]

For our upcoming trip we were thinking of getting the DDP. We never got it before because we really never thought it was deal. Am I looking at this wrong?

As noted, it depends but it's getting more and more difficult to see value from it. It works best for those who plan, eat at the more expensive options, have Disney Kids and are on shorter stays. It's very difficult to get value from the Quick Service Plan, somewhat difficult to get value from the Basic Plan and not as difficult to get value from the deluxe plan if you can use the credits appropriately. I'd point out there is savings and there is extra value. Many try to show savings by comparing the price they would have spent for the same thing, this is only applicable if that is what they would have gotten without the plan.

There is risk in the plan since it's paid and then use or lose. IMO one needs to see at least a 20% savings over what you would have spent without it and/or a 20% extra value for desired options you want but wouldn't have gotten. I'd say take your reservations and planned meals and compare to the menu's to see where it'd put you.

 

[wdwlover25]

Friends purchased the Deluxe plan on their last trip. They completely underestimated the amount of food provided under this plan and spent the entire trip running from one reservation to the next. And then had a ton of snack credits left over in the end. We typically have breakfast in the room, snacks from home/quick service until late afternoon and one table service each day for dinner. We tend to like the not as expensive TS choices like 50s Prime, Sci Fi, Yak and Yeti, Via Napoli. On average we spend less than $100 per day for two adults one child.

 

[Chuck S]

There are days where the DDP would have saved me a little money, and days where I don't spend near what the DDP cost would be. Over he course of an average 8 night trip, I spend less than what a DDP would cost.

However, my biggest concern with a DDP is the lack of flexibility. I don't want a table service meal every day, just like there are days I really don't want counter service. And when I do order counter service, I really don't want the included desserts, which makes any plan much less of a value.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

So I have a split stay because we have friends coming in at a later date so we have one day at bay lake tower. If we decide to do the dxdp could we use that after the day we check out and into the other stay? How long is the dining plan good for after your stay. My thought is if we don't use all the credits on the one day because it is to much food we could use them the days following if our friends decide they don't want the dining plan and we are forced int not doing the dining plan.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

I believe dining credits are good until midnight of the day you check out.

The "worth it" question is hard to figure out. DH and I think it's "worth it" for the two of us. Neither one of us would be happy eating counter service more than once a day, we never cook in the villas (don't even really bring snacks) and DH likes having everything paid before we go. For us, it works. We do have a TIW card that we purchase if we're going to do more than one trip a year and use the DDP in conjunction with the TIW card for those times we want appetizers or cocktails. I know for the two of us, we'd be spending more than $100 a day for food. DH is a big eater (and stays so thin it makes me crazy) so between the two of us, it's just the right amount of food.

 

[Dean]

So I have a split stay because we have friends coming in at a later date so we have one day at bay lake tower. If we decide to do the dxdp could we use that after the day we check out and into the other stay? How long is the dining plan good for after your stay. My thought is if we don't use all the credits on the one day because it is to much food we could use them the days following if our friends decide they don't want the dining plan and we are forced int not doing the dining plan.

It's good for that specific stay only from the time you check in (not get your room) until MN the day of checkout. The split stay situation is often perfect for the DP. You could get it for the 1 day at BLT and use it the day of check in and next day and plan your reservations to take advantage of the DP options.

 

[kedkin]

There are days where the DDP would have saved me a little money, and days where I don't spend near what the DDP cost would be. Over he course of an average 8 night trip, I spend less than what a DDP would cost.

However, my biggest concern with a DDP is the lack of flexibility. I don't want a table service meal every day, just like there are days I really don't want counter service. And when I do order counter service, I really don't want the included desserts, which makes any plan much less of a value.

This is what we do as well, never get a desert and don't do table service every day, so I can't see how it would be worth it for us. Sure, some days we might spend more than DDP, but 80% of the time we won't.